Wolf Hall discussion continuation thread

[AKnickerfulOfMenace]

Continuing the thread from Telly Addicts, just in time for episode 4

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/2288038-Damian-Lewis-fans-line-up-for-Wolf-Hall-tonight?msgid=52500336#52500336

I haven't seen it yet but very much enjoying your discussion anyway - I will catch up later tonight!

Yes I think I said Anne seemed brittle.

Natalie Dormer was excellent in the execution scene in the Tudors also.

The worst Anne Boleyn execution scene has to be from 'The Other Boleyn Girl.'

I've just watched the whole lot over the past 3 nights. Absolutely loved it. The acting, direction, lighting, music, costumes, everything. I want to watch it all again.

Mark R was absolutley magnificent and agree with whoever said upthread that his voice and stillness is what is so spellbounding about him as an actor.

Does anyone know if they are going to film Bring Up The Bodies?

It needed more episodes.
It was Wolf Hall with bullet points.

I think this combined both books, didn't it? AFAIK, the next series will have to deal with Mantel's as yet unfinished book.

This was both Wolf Hall & Bring up the Bodies. (BUTB)

I wish they had made it 8 episodes - I thought the last two were slightly rushed & there was so much more, in the books, that could have been included.

I loved the first page of BUTB where Cromwell is flying his hawks that he has named after his dead daughters & was so hoping to see that scene.

But I am not moaning & will be re watching it all soon.

The books are so worth reading if you have watched the series & not read them - so many little details are filled in & Mantel's prose is stunning.

I probably shouldn't admit this here, but I've tried reading Wolf Hall twice and I just cannot get into it. I will try again though.

It took me a while to get into it. I realised that it's not the sort of book to pick up & read for ten minutes in bed before you go to sleep. It does demand being awake & giving it an hour or so.

Oh yes agree that both books are incredibly dense, keeping track of all the Thomases and the incessant he said he said he saids is thoroughly rewarding.

Nb am steeling self to watch tomorrow.

Sorry if this has been said, but only just found this thread.

It was fabulous, wasn't it?

Hard to believe that it's true

So was any of what she was accused of true?

Was Cromwell just choosing who he wanted to die?

When he said to one of them something like "she won't go quietly & Henry wants a son/new wife", was there ever a chance that she could have been allowed to live peacefully somewhere?

In some ways it was hard to feel too sorry for her (apart from the gruesome death) as she was so horrible about Catherine of Aragon & Mary.

Yes when Henry embraced Cromwell at the end, I wonder what Cromwell was thinking?

that he was in league with the devil??!!

So do we think that Cromwell also deserved to die, when it happens?

All that death for Henry to have a son, & then none of his heirs had children so his line ended with Elizabeth!

It's difficult also to not think of things in modern terms, isn't it?

where Cromwell is flying his hawks that he has named after his dead daughters

I TORE through Wolf Hall and was dying to get hold of BUTB

but I found I read this same page every night for a fortnight (startling when I dropped it on the floor as I nodded off) and didn't ever get past it

so you're not the only one, Bakeoff

Yes both books but just far too short. So many events that were described in detail in the book were just mentioned in passing.

I did the same Mudda so will now try and read during daylight hours.

I can't believe Anne would be so reckless, "walls have ears" especially in royal palaces.

Enjoyed the series, don't know why some viewers moaned about the way it was shot, "Too dark". If they're not complaining about accents and mumbling in this sort of drama I suppose the next gripe is about lighting.

I was surprised that Catherine and Henry were married for nearly 24 years and knew each other for ten or so beforehand, before he set her aside.

And Anne was around 32 when she married Henry, older than I'd expected.

I knew she was "Anne of a thousand days" which I take it refers to her being queen but not having thought about the dates, I was surprised she and Henry were "an item" for at least a decade.

Btw her lapdog, was it pushed/dropped or did it jump?

I'm half way through WH (but going to watch the last episode tonight...) Never in my whole life thought the decline of Wolsey would bring tears to my eyes!

There's a really interesting article about the costumes here.

(Also, I saw it because it was posted by a friend of mine on the wall of someone actually involved in it, and that person said it was spot on and the writer had really seen what they were trying to achieve, so it looks like all the stuff the writer mentions was deliberate.)

Love this thread. I'm now going to lower the tone by asking if any of you have seen these lovely cushions depicting H8 and his wives? I've linked to the Anne Boleyn one. They have tasteful executioners axes on the backs of them (must admit I quite like them )

LOL!

They had charm bracelets at Hampton Court shop last week.

I'm not going to click on that bracelet link in case the charms are severed heads

I clicked. No heads.

I was also amused by Cranmer asking Cromwell "Are the children not whipped in this household?" Imagine him coming on MN!

Just caught up at last!

ROFL, Uptoapoint!

Someone just tweeted about my book and Thomas Cromwell favourited it

Talking of Twitter, does anyone else follow @KngHenryVIII? He's brilliant.

Blimey have seen the final episode now. Extraordinary. Feel a bit through-the-mangle. Bloody hell.

That is all.